Chapter 2 · My Daughter's Meal, Not for Your Greed

Things suddenly got a lot quieter around us.

The parents who had tried to mediate now looked a bit awkward.

Carly's face flushed, but she still tried to argue. "You can't go by the cost. Cooking at home isn't that expensive."

"I'm not cooking at home. I order premium kids' nutrition meals for Lily." I pulled out my phone and showed her the order details. "30 dollars a day, five days a week, every month.

"You want to split it for 3 dollars? That means I'm paying out of my own pocket to turn myself into a meal provider for Mark."

Everyone leaned in to take a look, and the order amount was right there, plain as day.

The crowd's opinion flipped in an instant.

"Holy crap. 30 dollars for one meal?"

"3 dollars isn't even close to enough."

"This isn't splitting a meal. This is taking advantage."

Carly started freaking out and went for the pity card. "My family's struggling. It's hard raising a kid all by myself. Your family's got money. Can't you show us a little mercy?"

"Your tough life doesn't give you the right to mess with mine." My gaze turned icy. "You've got thousands of dollars stashed away in your investment accounts, but you won't spend a dime to feed Mark well.

"Instead, you try to mooch off Lily's meals. And you still have the guts to claim you're having a hard time?"

Carly's face went ghostly sick. "H-How did you know—"

She was so freaked out that she could barely get the words out. She'd never told anyone about her secret stash.

I ignored her panic and continued, "You've been telling people behind my back that I'm an easy mark with money, and you'd be a fool not to take advantage of me.

"You think my family's well-off, so naturally, I should help you out.

"You even figured that once you got away with freeloading on Lily's meals, you'd move on to my fruit, snacks, and rides to and from school.

"Let me make this clear: no way."

I paused, making sure every word hit home. "I worked hard for my money. My daughter's meals are something I put real care into.

"If you want it, you should pay for it yourself. If you think you can freeload for 3 dollars or try to guilt-trip me, not a chance."

Carly's cheeks burned from my words, and she was utterly mortified. The stares from everyone around her seemed to sting her hard.

She wanted to lash out, but couldn't get a single word out.

Every sneaky move and petty plot she had was exposed for all to see.

"That's not what I meant..." Carly mumbled.

"You know what you meant," I said, grabbing Lily's hand. "From now on, stay away from my daughter. And don't think about trying any of your shady moves again."

With that, I didn't spare Carly another look but walked away with Lily.

Lily looked up at me, her voice soft. "Mom, you're amazing."

I crouched down and gently ruffled her hair. "If anyone tries to take your things, don't let them push you around. What's yours is yours, and you get to decide what happens to it. I'll always have your back."

"Okay!" Lily nodded hard, her eyes sparkling.

Behind us, Carly was still frozen there, with everyone gossiping about her. She looked like she wished the ground would swallow her up.

The parents who had spoken up for her earlier couldn't look her in the eye now. Their faces twisted with disdain.

Carly figured if someone had money, she could mooch off them for free.

She thought that by acting pitiful, she could make others foot the bill for her.

She believed that anything belonging to kids didn't matter.

But she forgot that rich people still made an effort to make money.

Kind ones also had their boundaries.

Little kids also had things that were theirs, and those things were off-limits to anyone else.

I came from Equitopia, and there was one iron rule I knew by heart. Resources could be shared, but never to be snatched.

Kindness could be given, but it should never be used to guilt-trip anyone.

If others showed me respect, I'd treat them right.

But if others tried to mess with me, I wouldn't compromise.

Carly wanted to pay 3 dollars for Lily's fancy meals.

Maybe it'd be possible when pigs could fly.

Chapter 2

Things suddenly got a lot quieter around us.

The parents who had tried to mediate now looked a bit awkward.

Carly's face flushed, but she still tried to argue. "You can't go by the cost. Cooking at home isn't that expensive."

"I'm not cooking at home. I order premium kids' nutrition meals for Lily." I pulled out my phone and showed her the order details. "30 dollars a day, five days a week, every month.

"You want to split it for 3 dollars? That means I'm paying out of my own pocket to turn myself into a meal provider for Mark."

Everyone leaned in to take a look, and the order amount was right there, plain as day.

The crowd's opinion flipped in an instant.

"Holy crap. 30 dollars for one meal?"

"3 dollars isn't even close to enough."

"This isn't splitting a meal. This is taking advantage."

Carly started freaking out and went for the pity card. "My family's struggling. It's hard raising a kid all by myself. Your family's got money. Can't you show us a little mercy?"

"Instead, you try to mooch off Lily's meals. And you still have the guts to claim you're having a hard time?"

Carly's face went ghostly sick. "H-How did you know—"

She was so freaked out that she could barely get the words out. She'd never told anyone about her secret stash.

I ignored her panic and continued, "You've been telling people behind my back that I'm an easy mark with money, and you'd be a fool not to take advantage of me.

"You think my family's well-off, so naturally, I should help you out.

"You even figured that once you got away with freeloading on Lily's meals, you'd move on to my fruit, snacks, and rides to and from school.

"Let me make this clear: no way."

I paused, making sure every word hit home. "I worked hard for my money. My daughter's meals are something I put real care into.

"If you want it, you should pay for it yourself. If you think you can freeload for 3 dollars or try to guilt-trip me, not a chance."

Carly's cheeks burned from my words, and she was utterly mortified. The stares from everyone around her seemed to sting her hard.

She wanted to lash out, but couldn't get a single word out.

Every sneaky move and petty plot she had was exposed for all to see.

"That's not what I meant..." Carly mumbled.

"You know what you meant," I said, grabbing Lily's hand. "From now on, stay away from my daughter. And don't think about trying any of your shady moves again."

With that, I didn't spare Carly another look but walked away with Lily.

Lily looked up at me, her voice soft. "Mom, you're amazing."

"Okay!" Lily nodded hard, her eyes sparkling.

Behind us, Carly was still frozen there, with everyone gossiping about her. She looked like she wished the ground would swallow her up.

The parents who had spoken up for her earlier couldn't look her in the eye now. Their faces twisted with disdain.

Carly figured if someone had money, she could mooch off them for free.

She thought that by acting pitiful, she could make others foot the bill for her.

She believed that anything belonging to kids didn't matter.

But she forgot that rich people still made an effort to make money.

Kind ones also had their boundaries.

Little kids also had things that were theirs, and those things were off-limits to anyone else.

I came from Equitopia, and there was one iron rule I knew by heart. Resources could be shared, but never to be snatched.

Kindness could be given, but it should never be used to guilt-trip anyone.

If others showed me respect, I'd treat them right.

But if others tried to mess with me, I wouldn't compromise.

Carly wanted to pay 3 dollars for Lily's fancy meals.

Maybe it'd be possible when pigs could fly.